Its interesting that both you and Zak crave female protaganists for your covers and imaginations. I myself see women as a lower form of hero than the hobbit, that is, not entirely credible even in a fantasy environment and think it is unsportsmanlike to humiliate monsters by having ladies (or hobbits) get the better of them.

I like it. Zak's style is pretty distinctive from what I still associate with D&D (Elmore), in a way that even the LotFP cover wasn't. Dark, washed out, brooding... Oh, and a flail! We don't see flails in most RPG art.

Mmm...cover art should make the onlooker intrigued, pique interest, buy product. I'm not too sure this piece does any of that. Cover art shouldn't turn off the casual onlooker from buying it. This piece does that for me.

I love it! ...the flames coming off the peryton's candlelabra/horns are inspired... I'd like to see less of the 'paint by numbers' approach to fantasy illustration and I don't care if it's supposed to be a city or a forest of wierd trees or natural stone pillars. The buildings/pillars reming me of Max Ernst 'frottage' art (which is perhaps a good association due to your porno connections)... but your are more square --- like old Max was trying to do one of his frottage paintings on an etch-a-sketch. Add in some dirigibles and she could be whacking Perytons in Blade-Runner city.

Kent: You are trying too hard to be a 'provocateur' and instead just are coming off as a douchebag.

I have to join the group that can't tell what's happening in the action. I still can't see a peryton shape in there, even though I know what I'm looking for now. True, my vision's not that great any more, though.

I love the expression on the adventuress and the flames especially. I also love the flail.

I wish the Peryton's maw and talons were more distinctly represented, but on the other hand the ambiguity can invite closer inspection of the whole picture (drawing the eyes into the background towers etc) which is an effective strategy.

I get this funny Leiber's Nehwon vibe from it, the sort of strange thing that you could expect to be happening in soot encrusted old and dirty Lankhmar. Warrior fighting something conjured by sorcerer.

man am i so not getting this picture. i can't make heads or frigging tails out of what is happening except some goth kid has a mace that he/she is swinging at what i first mistook for king kong's hand. it leaves me frustrated and squint eyed trying to figure out wtf is going on. definitely not an image that invites a purchase.